Ryanair announces plans for major Shannon Expansion

Pictured (l-r) Neal McMahon, COO, Ryanair, Minister Peter Burke TD., Ray O’Driscoll, CEO, Shannon Airport, Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, Eddie Wilson, CEO, Ryanair

 

€50M investment in new 4-bay aircarft maintenance hangar & engineering academy creates over 400 high skilled jobs

Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline, today (23 July) announced that it has submitted a planning application for a major expansion of its engineering operations at Shannon Airport, to become Ryanair's largest aircraft maintenance facility in Ireland. This €50m investment will include a new 4-bay aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Shannon Airport, further strengthening Ryanair's long-standing maintenance and engineering operations.

Ryanair currently operates a 3-bay aircraft maintenance hangar at Shannon Airport, supporting over 200 high-skilled, high-paid mechanics and engineering jobs. The new MRO hangar will form a key part of Ryanair's ongoing investment in aircraft maintenance, operational resilience and engineering training across its network. In particular, this exciting new project, supported by Enterprise Ireland, will include a new Ryanair Engineering Academy, which will see the creation of 80 new apprenticeship roles and support the training of over 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031, further supporting local employment.

Subject to planning approval, Ryanair expects construction to commence in early 2027, with the new facility expected to enter operation in late 2028.

Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, said:

"Ryanair is delighted to announce a €50m investment in Shannon Airport for a new 4-bay aircraft maintenance hangar and Engineering Academy. This project is about jobs, skills and growth. Shannon already plays an important role in maintaining Ryanair's fleet, and this expansion will create hundreds of highly skilled engineering jobs while training the next generation of aircraft mechanics in Ireland.

This major new facility will not only increase Ryanair's aircraft maintenance capacity at Shannon but will also include a new Engineering Academy, providing dedicated training facilities for up to 80 apprentices, training over 400 mechanics between 2027 and 2031.

We welcome Enterprise Ireland's support for this investment, which will help deliver more high-skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term aviation growth in the Shannon region. Together with our new Dublin hangar, this investment demonstrates Ryanair's long-term commitment to making Ireland a leading European centre for aviation maintenance and engineering excellence."

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said:

"Today's announcement that Ryanair will invest €50 million in its engineering operation, creating high quality jobs here in Shannon, is very welcome and demonstrates the continued success of this Irish company's performance internationally.

The government through Enterprise Ireland is committed to scaling and building Irish multinationals that will help drive the Irish economy and our competitive advantage forward. Ryanair's announcement today is evidence of that Irish multinational ambition in action, and we are delighted to support them on their Shannon expansion plans to include the establishment of a dedicated Ryanair Engineering Academy."

Enterprise Ireland CEO, Jenny Melia, said:

"Ryanair's announcement of 400 new jobs is a strong endorsement of Ireland as a location for long-term investment and growth. As one of Ireland's most successful global companies, Ryanair continues to expand its international footprint while reinforcing its commitment to its Irish operations.

The company's investment in skills and training in Shannon is particularly significant, supporting the development of specialist talent and helping to address critical skills needs across the aviation sector. This investment further strengthens Ireland's position as a centre of excellence for aviation.

Ambitious companies like Ryanair exemplify Enterprise Ireland's vision – that Irish globally focused companies will be the primary driver of our economy. Enterprise Ireland looks forward to continuing to work with the Ryanair team as they pursue their expansion plans, grow their international customer base, and create high-quality employment opportunities in Ireland."

Shannon Airport Group CEO, Ray O'Driscoll, said:

"Ryanair's proposal to invest at Shannon is a powerful endorsement of Shannon Airport, our aviation ecosystem and the wider region. From the birthplace of aircraft leasing, Shannon has grown into a global hub for aviation services and engineering. Today, Shannon Airport and the adjacent Shannon Airport Business Park together support Ireland's largest aviation cluster, with almost 100 companies operating across the campus. The scale of Ryanair's proposal reflects the depth of aviation expertise, engineering capability and talent that has developed here over decades. We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Ryanair and look forward to supporting its ambitions at Shannon."

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Ryanair Press Office
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E: press@ryanair.com